Chapter 817: The Royal Navy's Ambition
To be honest, the damage these warships sustained didn't severely impact their immediate combat effectiveness, but it couldn't be ignored indefinitely.
For instance, if a section of the broadside deck was smashed, that specific part of the hull could no longer bear its share of the load.
When wooden warships turned or crested waves, the hull underwent slight deformation. The structural stress around a breach would be immense, causing the surrounding framework to age and fail rapidly. It was like tearing a plastic package; if the packaging is intact, it takes great effort to rip it open. But if there is even a small nick at the edge, it tears with ease.
So while these warships looked like they had only sustained minor injuries, they had to return to port for repairs. Otherwise, small issues could escalate into massive projects requiring the replacement of half the hull.
Lord Hood couldn't help but recall the Mediterranean Fleet's losses during this operation.
One third-rate and one fourth-rate battleship were severely damaged.
One cruiser and three frigates were sunk.
In naval terms, "severely damaged" meant that while the vessel remained afloat, it was effectively useless. Typically, it would take at least four months in port for emergency repairs.
These losses were negligible on their own, but the broader situation was far more dire—eighteen third-rates, twenty fourth-rates, and nearly all the cruisers and frigates had sustained light damage.
The entire repair process would drag on for at least half a year, and that wasn't even counting the two severely damaged vessels.
This meant that until those repairs were complete, the Mediterranean Fleet would have only a dozen or so third-rate battleships at its disposal!
Forget the French Toulon Fleet; even the Spanish fleet could bully them now...
Lord Hood felt an overwhelming sense of frustration.
Even during the Seven Years' War, when he had battled superior French forces in the Atlantic, he had never felt this stifled.
He stared blankly out the porthole. After a long silence, he finally let out a heavy sigh, returned to his desk, and began drafting a report to the Admiralty. He requested that the Mediterranean Fleet return to the Port of Plymouth for repairs.
There, with more shipyards and craftsmen, the repair time could be cut to under three months.
Just as he finished the final word and prepared to sign his name, a muffled, thunderous roar echoed from the rear of the fleet.
His seasoned ears knew immediately that it wasn't the sound of a cannon. Frowning, he rushed toward the command deck.
Before Lord Hood could even clear the corridor between the gun decks, his adjutant came rushing toward him, sweat pouring down his face. "Admiral! The Smoke just suffered a magazine explosion!"
Hood's mind went momentarily numb.
A magazine explosion occurred when enemy fire struck the ammunition stored in the hold. Since the blast originated within the hull, the destruction was almost always catastrophic.
The Smoke was a fourth-rate battleship that had only been commissioned last February. After such an explosion, it was virtually guaranteed to be struck from the naval register.
Hood reached the command deck. He didn't even need his telescope to see the thick plumes of black smoke rising from the eastern waters; the Smoke was engulfed in a raging inferno.
Further away, a dozen or so French warships were circling, firing their cannons in celebration.
The adjutant continued his report: "Two French cruisers just struck the Smoke's starboard side. We didn't expect it to cause a magazine explosion..."
Such an occurrence was actually extremely rare, as gunpowder was stored deep within the gun decks, shielded by thick wooden walls. It was difficult to hit.
Hood suddenly remembered that the Smoke's starboard side had been blasted with two holes the previous week. If a shell happened to enter through those exact breaches...
His face turned ashen as he turned to the signal officer. "Dispatch frigates to rescue survivors."
An hour later, its skeletal frame burned through, the Smoke sank completely into the Mediterranean Sea, becoming the first battleship lost in this engagement.
By noon the following day, the British Mediterranean Fleet slowly limped into the Port of Gibraltar.
A sense of relief and safety washed over Hood; for the first time, he found this port truly beautiful.
...
London.
10 Downing Street.
William Pitt Junior closed the application for the Mediterranean Fleet's return to the Port of Plymouth and looked up at the First Lord of the Admiralty. "General Jervis, what is the Admiralty's opinion?"
Jervis spoke with some difficulty. "Mr. Pitt, as things stand, returning to the home ports for repairs is absolutely necessary."
Before Pitt could respond, the Home Secretary, the Duke of Portland, spoke up anxiously. "Does that mean we will have virtually no fleet available in the Mediterranean during that time?"
Jervis sighed and nodded. "That is indeed the case."
"Then who will escort our merchant ships?" the Duke of Portland almost roared. "The French fleet will tear them to pieces!"
"This..." Jervis's voice grew weaker. "We can only advise merchant vessels to avoid the Mediterranean for the time being."
"How can we do that?! Do you have any idea how much trade we have in the Mediterranean? Oh, God, we pour so much money into the Navy, only to be driven out of the Mediterranean with our tails between our legs!"
Pitt signaled for him to calm down, then addressed Jervis in a stern tone. "I can order the merchant ships to avoid the Mediterranean temporarily. But once the fleet finishes its repairs, what is the Admiralty's plan to deal with the French?"
The latter sighed again, his expression grim. "The French fleet refuses to engage us in a direct battle. Instead, they use those agile little boats to harass us constantly. In the Atlantic, we could use the winds to dictate tactics, but in the Mediterranean..."
"So, your conclusion is?"
"My apologies, Mr. Pitt, but it will be difficult to mount an effective counterattack in the short term."
The Duke of Portland caught his phrasing and immediately interjected, "And what about the long-term strategy?"
Jervis placed another document on the Prime Minister's desk. "We plan to construct our own fleet of steam warships. This is the development proposal from the Chatham Dockyard."
The Chatham Royal Dockyard was a famous shipbuilding hub in London; the legendary Victory had been built there.
Jervis continued, "Given our nation's shipbuilding capacity, if we invest enough capital, I am confident that within a year to eighteen months, our steam fleet will surpass the French."
In truth, while Britain might be conservative in other areas, the Royal Navy had always been adept at adopting new technologies.
Historically, many technical innovations from Spain or France were ultimately perfected and implemented by the British first.
In fact, British shipyards were already starting to use steam engines for tasks like lifting timber. One could only say they had encountered a "bug" like Joseph, which was why they had temporarily fallen behind in the race for naval innovation.
Comments